Guides
How to File a Public Records Request: FOIA and State Laws
How to file a public records request: federal FOIA vs. state laws, finding the records officer, a sample request letter, fees, deadlines, appeals, and MuckRock.
Local government directory
San Jose, CA: council, meetings and contacts
San Jose is the 13th largest city in the United States with about 989,814 residents, in Santa Clara. Here is who governs it, when they meet in public, and where the agendas are posted.
City government at a glance
- Form of government
- Council-manager
- Governing body
- San José City Council — 11 members
- Regular meetings
- Tuesdays, 1:30 p.m., with 7:00 p.m. evening sessions on the first and third Tuesdays, City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara St.
- City Hall
- 200 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose, CA 95113
- Main information line
- (408) 535-3500
- Population (2025 est.)
- 989,814 (2020 census: 1,013,240)
- County
- Santa Clara
- Planning body
- San José Planning Commission
Ten district councilmembers plus a citywide mayor; council-manager government.
Official links
- San Jose official website
- San José City Council
- Agendas, minutes and meeting video
- Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
- San Jose Unified School District
The bodies that decide things in San Jose
| Body | What it decides | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| San José City Council | Ordinances, the city budget, zoning changes, contracts, police and fire funding | Official page |
| Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors | County budget, sheriff and jail, public health, elections administration, county roads | County website |
| San Jose Unified School District board | School budget, boundaries, calendar, curriculum adoption, superintendent | District website |
| San José Planning Commission | Rezonings, site plans, variances and long-range land use recommendations | City website |
Questions people ask about San Jose government
When does the San Jose San José City Council meet?
Tuesdays, 1:30 p.m., with 7:00 p.m. evening sessions on the first and third Tuesdays, City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara St. Always confirm the date and location on the official agenda before you attend, because meetings can be cancelled, moved or continued.
How do I contact San Jose city government?
The main information line is (408) 535-3500. City Hall is at 200 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose, CA 95113, and the official website is https://www.sanjoseca.gov.
How do I speak at a San Jose public meeting?
Find the agenda for the meeting, check the sign-up deadline (many cities close the list before the meeting starts), prepare remarks for the posted time limit — usually two or three minutes — and state your name, your district and your specific ask.
No debates for San Jose yet. If something is on the council agenda — a rezoning, a fee increase, a transit change — open the first debate and invite both sides.
Start here if you are new to this
Guides
How to Write to Elected Officials: Letters, Emails and Calls That Work
How to write to your congressman or city council: email, letter, and call templates, what staff actually do with your message, and a clear do/don't table.
Guides
How to Find Your Representatives by ZIP Code or Address
Find my representative by zip code: official tools for your U.S. House member, senators, state legislators and council district — and why ZIP codes mislead.
Guides
How to Start a Petition: Local and State Rules Explained
How to start a petition in your state or city: informal vs. legally binding petitions, initiative states, signature validation, and a step-by-step checklist.